Urgent Help For Honey Gourami

hI guys, water parameters are good before anyone asks and my other honey and 2 dwarfs are really happy.

However a honey gourami I have been worried about for some time was found lying on its side at the bottom of my tank (I thought it was dead) however it was still moving and after an hour or two it was swimming along the bottom again. However it has recently slumped on the bottom again slightly curled up, there looks to be a lump on one side of him. He is also really stressed and lost his colour completely, when it comes to feeding times, he goes to eat however he gets food in his mouth and kinda spits it out but he has done this since the day I've had him for about 4 weeks. Does anyone have any advice? These are my first fish and I don't want to lose my honey.

 

UPDATE, I just fed and he came off the bottom to feed, that's good right?However he went straight to the bottom after.



I've attached a photo where you can hopefully see the lump

 

Turns out the lump is symmetrical on both sides of him, is he just malnourished and its part of his skeleton?

 

Could it be swim bladder issues? This is what could be causing the swelling and the sinking. You can try fasting the fish for 2 days or feeding him a cooked pea to help clear him out

 

Could it be swim bladder issues? This is what could be causing the swelling and the sinking. You can try fasting the fish for 2 days or feeding him a cooked pea to help clear him out

I literally have no idea, he just keeps going to the bottom and flopping on his side he used to be a beautiful yellow colour with deep orange tips, now he's pretty much white, do I feed the pea after the fast or before?

 

I'm sorry to hear about your gourami. They are beautiful fish. I hope he gets better. Am interested to know what's wrong with him. Good luck!

 

I'd fast for a day, the feed the pea. Just to make sure he's a little hungry

I reckon it's either swim bladder disease or dropsy... though I am no expert... look the two up and see which description matches the fish more perhaps

 

I'd fast for a day, the feed the pea. Just to make sure he's a little hungry

He still comes to the surface for food so he's got his appetite!

I'm sorry to hear about your gourami. They are beautiful fish. I hope he gets better. Am interested to know what's wrong with him. Good luck!

Thankyou

I reckon it's either swim bladder disease or dropsy... though I am no expert... look the two up and see which description matches the fish more perhaps

Thanks for all your help

 

Well try the pea then, but if he doesn't take it (only about half the pea is really necessary) then try the other method

 

I went to my lfs and they have told me not to get my hopes up, but they said my best bet is to place him in some salted water for 15 minutes every day. I will try this and give him a pea when he is in there, that way, he will be the one to actually eat the pea. I hope it works